A Childhood of Eczema and a Doctor I'll Never Forget

My entire life up until now has been both a waiting game and a science experiment. Just like the first few years of life in the 80s, I was once again the guinea pig.

The setting is Charlottesville, Virginia, 1982. I was just about two years old.
Days and nights of baby eczema, hives and scratching brought my mom, dad and I to my first allergist.

                                         

     

He recommended scratch tests for allergens, which was the gold standard for allergy diagnosis at the time. It really was a form of torture where a sanitized blade scraped the skin and the specific allergen in the form of a liquid was applied from vials. Because it was still an experimental testing process at that time and later found to be incredibly dangerous, I can't even find images to show you from Google.

Chronic Inflammation: A Worldwide Epidemic

Why are my summer allergies so bad?

Is there actually a way to drastically reduce hay fever allergy symptoms for good?

Yes!

But don't say I said it was going to be easy. Its not. But its definitely worth it.

Birch pollen allergy can cause oral allergy syndrome when you eat Mediterranean, Mexican or Italian cusine

Most often, doctors will tell you to take an Allegra, Zyrtec or Claritin not realizing sometimes there are allergens in allergy medications.

Years ago, I found out the hard way that undeclared soy in Zyrtec tablets caused dyshidrotic eczema all over the hands, systemic allergic reactions and mood changes (I can have the liquid capsules, no problem). Then I realized when my insurance changed, I was allergic to the soy derivative binder in the generic Atarax which I had taken since childhood for allergic reactions. Allegra tablets contain povidone, the same ingredient used for the CT contrast drink and injections, which I had no idea I was sensitive to until I had to drink it for a test a few months ago.

It took me about ten months of doctor after doctor (around 20), twelve ER visits last year, lots of research and trial and error to figure out what went on. In January 2019, I was on Prednisone for a month just to get a break. February was when I really got answers...

For months I took dye-free liquid Cetirizine Hydrochloride (Target brand Zyrtec), since that seemed to be the only one without cane sugar or soy.

Wait, what?! Maya, you're the most allergic girl I know. How are you rarely taking medication? 

It has everything to do with trees, pollen...and what you eat and drink. The lip balms and products you use and ingest. The medicines and supplements you take.

Could gluten sensitivity symptoms actually be a cross reaction to birch allergy?

I've realized there is one thing at the core of almost every diagnosis or health issue that is too often overlooked.

Inflammation.

Inflammation in the body is linked to numerous chronic diseases; everything from heart disease to autoimmune diseases and cancer. Yet, the focus tends to be on other things than the very thing that could be the true cause of negative shifts in one's health. People turn to supplements that strengthen the immune system, when the answer to absorbing more nutrients, a healthy digestive system and a healthy cardiovascular system often involves knowing what to take away. 

Allergies, Hormones and Miracles

It happened to me. It took about seven years of allergy shots, but for several years, from the age of fourteen until about age twenty, I was able to eat soy sauce and my favorite cuisine at that time, sesame chicken and shrimp fried rice. But there was a slight catch. Slightly different reactions that I didn't understand, happened.

Allergic reactions can be exhausting, mentally, physically and psychologically. 

Without The Labels

I'm going to share a journal entry with all of you. An entry from April that very much relates to the topic at hand...

Journal entry - 4/12/2018

The missing puzzle piece.

These past two weeks brought me back to the very place I was trying to escape. 

I had already been there. The place where you so desperately want a diagnosis. That place where you don't realize that if you place all your eggs in that basket, you've also put yourself into a box.

A box is like a padded room. Will I see anything past its walls? See beyond the label given by a medical professional?

There are no windows, unless I listen carefully to the silence and maybe hear the birds chirping outside and realize, "hey, wait a minute....there is much more to life than this."

Those who judge others are the ones who most judge themselves. Be compassionate. Be loving. Be what you want to see.

A diagnosis is a label. Like on a product. But we are people. Labels bring an understanding of possible limitations. It is a description of a challenge to overcome. It is the same as someone with lots of years of schooling saying from observing someone limping in front of him or her, he or she cannot cross the road. He or she cannot do this or that. It is a professional opinion that changes depending upon one's current symptoms.

I'm Back

If you told me I'd be back, I wouldn't have believed you.

I was done with allergies. By 'allergies' I mean the gamut of allergic diseases I had to live my life around. Food allergies, hay fever, eczema, contact dermatitis, oral allergy syndrome and cholinergic urticaria were words I never wanted to speak about again. They represented trauma, pain and suffering. They represented fear. I wanted to face the sun and forget about the things I carefully tailored my life around to be healthy. To be 'normal.' Or whatever my version of that might be. (Warning: Do not read the rest of the blog if you're eating lunch or easily squeamish.)

I wanted to enjoy the outdoors without thinking about the allergy index and whether it was safe or not. I wanted to be excited about social events involving food and actually eat something, for once. I wanted to feel the joy of communication without every interaction being tainted by my negative lens of obsessive allergy consciousness.

The End (Rebirth)

Some of you have been reading my blog since the first year Maya's Happy Place was born back in 2009. All of you showed me how connected we are and took away the painful isolation of feeling like a 'girl in the bubble.'

A couple of you
called me out on my sense of entitlement and lashed out in anger at me after a pity post I put up about the handicapped table and peanut butter in Starbucks. And I'm actually not angry anymore. I get it now. I've also let go of the anger towards all the comedians who continue to use us as the focus of their jokes.


















Some of you cheered me on and rooted for me when I didn't know how to cheer and root for myself. Others of you wrote letters of gratitude about the babies and children that no longer react because of the knowledge I've shared...which still blows me away. For all of these things, even the things that seem bad, I am grateful.

Why?

In the past two years, I excavated some of the darkest parts of myself and the reality I thought I knew. And in finding out the truth that I knew practically nothing, miracles were revealed to me.
Every sense I had intensified, including my ability to read energy. I now even somewhat understand why some have and are born with the food allergies they have and some aren't. (My non-traditional theory will be explored in an upcoming YouTube video)

6 Life-Changing Energy Techniques For the Immune System

Chakras really exist. At least, according to Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese Medicine. Leave it to those smarty-pants Asians to know something we don't. In China, energy is known as chi or qi. In Japan it is known as ki. In Hindu, it is called prana which in yoga, it is the breath or life force. In all of these ancient healing modalities, it is best described as vital life force energy. Without this energy, a person cannot survive. 

Deep REM sleep restores vital life force energy.

It is through sleep and nourishment that we acquire more of this energy. This is also why being around negative people drains you. The energy of people we are intimately or emotionally connected to affect this energy. The energy of locations, objects (such as certain crystals) and even electro-magnetic fields also affect this energy. Many people do not know that energy plays a key role in our health and how we manage stress levels on an energetic level. Our energetic body, also known as the chakra system is something intensively studied in Ayurvedic medicine and has close ties to Chinese Medicine and the study of meridians.

Many of us within the food allergy community know about the scientific research and peanut allergy treatments of Dr. Li using Chinese Medicine. Maybe like me, you even bought the fascinating book about her work by Henry Ehrlich, "Food Allergies: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science and the Search For a Cure". People travel to her from all over the United States because of her effective treatment for peanut allergy and several other food allergies. However, since her treatments are not covered by insurance, the high expense for travel and monthly visits for the treatments could deter people from seeking her help. My point is, if Chinese Medicine holds the key to treatment and these herbs or mushrooms actually help to unblock chakras on levels many don't understand, why argue?

Why is it important to set energetic boundaries? 

 

If you already know you're an empath and live with family, there is a good chance you feel their emotional blocks such as fear, anger, resentment and/or guilt. If you don't know what an empath is, proceed to this post to learn more from the video. These deep emotions hidden under layers of denial, guilt and sometimes even addiction are a heavy burden for anyone with an autoimmune condition to bear.

Empaths notoriously take on the emotions of others. Alone time is crucial.

An empath might feel things emotionally and might even experience hives or eczema when spending too much time at home. Empaths also have a tendency of 'numbing out' through distraction, whether that's through social media, Netflix or anything that will distract the empath from the emotion that they cannot or are afraid to currently express.

 If you've already checked for cross-contamination within your foods and checked whether your heating or air conditioning filters were recently changed yet still cannot find the culprit, here are a few things which help me.

Review: Enjoy Life Pizza Crust With Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Soy-Free Basil, Mushroom and Onion Pizza Recipe!

For some, the bond between children and grandparents is unlike any other.

My mini-fridge from my attempt to move out of my house last year is now in my bedroom due to family cross-contamination reactions and a certain senior family member (bless his heart) eating my food as well as any leftovers of mine in the fridge.

Growing up, this person was one of my favorite people in the entire world and still is. As a toddler I remember him holding me and scratching me until I fell asleep. We also shared the bond of music, because he sings like Perry Cuomo and used to follow me around the house with a tape recorder while I sang songs he taught me. It seems to be a culture thing where Filipino elderly members forget, disregard or just don't understand the whole concept of cross-contamination and that we cannot eat the same things they do. Maybe this happens in many other cultures, too...I don't know. After a couple decades of the same fights over and over, you realize that people are who they are and you have to accept it while taking measures to protect yourself.

Of course, many of you know I have to cook everything at home because with my list of allergens along with severe gluten intolerance (you can read my 'gluten challenge' story here) its just too risky and I have the past experiences to prove it. Some of my allergy list includes garbanzo beans, (chickpeas), peas and lentils, however, I am able to eat black beans, red beans and white northern beans. So for those of you with legume allergies, definitely talk to your doc before experimenting with northern white beans! If you do decide to play food roulette (because I once knew that kind of stupidity) please park outside an emergency room!

No, I no longer eat in a single restaurant, except a trusted sushi place named Kotobuki where I notify them of "deadly allergy to peanuts and tofu" then order a sashimi lunch or dinner (without the small salmon/mayo-based sauce appetizer (contains soy and gluten) which usually comes with it and they give me extra salmon sashimi instead). Like many with soy allergy, I cannot eat farm-raised fish, due to soy feed (literally knocks me out within two hours, along with itchy skin and mouth and big mood shift) so it's usually a trial and error even for sushi places, however most of the ones I've been to serve wild-caught fish only. I also bring my own bottle of Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos Soy-Free Soy Sauce (I also like to add Celtic Sea Salt to it since it's close but not salty enough). 


These lazy, hot summer months have turned me into a mad scientist in the kitchen; experimenting, failing and then experimenting some more! And since it's taking me forever to learn a video production program for some surprises I have in store, I'm going to post this homemade Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Pizza using Enjoy Life Pizza Crust which came out absolutely freaking amazing! 

Check out that texture. Now who wants to experience the best dairy-free soy-free gluten-free pizza, ever?

               

Trauma, Abuse and Pain: The Immune System Connection Part I

 Many of you know I'm an artist and last month not only was I honored to be in such an amazing exhibition, but I had the opportunity to promote some of my favorite allergy-friendly products since I knew many of the attendees would be children. Here is the full story for those of you who want to see which amazing company made an appearance! (Hint: They seriously have the best cookies ever!)

I recently talked about myself being an empath since birth. I no longer see medical treatment as the one and only answer to health issues. I now realize that working on the mind and emotions has everything to do with how healthy we are. So now that I'm back to working on myself, a cleansing process is going on. And through this cleansing many epiphanies keep coming up. The one in particular I'm going to talk about today is self-love and acceptance. Why? From an energetic body standpoint, lack of those things within oneself directly affects the heart chakra and solar plexus.

Being by the water grounds me and calms everything...even my skin. 

Using Your Passions For Healing Yourself

I guess it would be helpful to stop writing notes into my phone at 3AM and actually get them on this blog, right?

This topic came to me two months ago while sweating it out on the elliptical. In fact, the gym is where many of my ideas flow.

Many of you might wonder what the heck this topic has to do with allergies. Medically speaking, allergies and eczema is most definitely tied to stress levels. Studies prove that regular meditation helps to improve mental health for many different health conditions. Science even proves that mindfulness meditation helps improve immune system function.



I deeply believe that many physical conditions can manifest or worsen as a result of blocked or stagnant negative emotions...which cause stress.

 This is simply my own personal opinion and you can take it or leave it. I also believe that the Law of Attraction which I touched upon in an earlier post plays a major role in getting better or getting worse. As you can see in this study, older people who had a longer will to live had much lower death rates and sickness!

So with all of that taken into consideration, could healing certain psychological patterns and eliminating negative emotions actually strengthen and heal our immune systems, too?

The Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness.

For some of us, this simple word creates a havoc of anxiety. For others, this word stirs feelings of gratitude and a feeling of peace. And for others, it may cause a sarcastic reaction. That was where I was at just over a month ago.

By this time, you probably have a person or scenario playing out in your head and you either are smiling, seething mad that I'm even bringing this up or deep in thought about where I could possibly be going with this.

If you find yourself having to forgive people every day, it might be time to take a hard inventory on why you are allowing it to happen in the first place. 

Maybe the person you are continually forgiving is someone you work with. Maybe the person you continually forgive is a close friend who is usually there for you. Maybe it's someone you're in a relationship with. Or maybe, if you're lucky, that person happens to be a family member.

Lucky? Why is it lucky to have a family member whom you constantly have to forgive?

Because the closer the person is to you, the harder this is going to be. The harder this lesson is to learn, the stronger the healing you will ultimately receive from the act of 100% forgiving that person!

For some people, forgiving someone who cheated on them, lied to them or intentionally mistreated them is the last thing they'd ever think to do. For those who may have been abused or victimized, the thought of forgiving a perpetrator seems like a concept that is best left for saints. Or martyrs.

But the truth is, forgiveness doesn't mean you must form a bond with them. And forgiving them doesn't make you a martyr, however allowing them to mistreat you again does.

Want to feel a bit of what the power of forgiveness feels like? Get your tissues ready; this woman forgave the person who shot her in the face. This man forgave his son's killer and now travels with him for speaking engagements around the country. Forgiveness heals like nothing else.

The Transitioning of this Blog to One of Healing and Empowerment

The past week has been a gift for me. A metamorphosis. After some self analysis and meditation, I realized that I couldn't expect to heal if I expected everyone else to heal me. I had to heal myself on more than just the physical level. Cutting out foods was one thing. But complaining and venting about things I didn't want was exactly what was making it all worse. By complaining and not living in bliss and talking about things I was grateful for, I was attracting exactly what I did not want.

If you find this exercise hard, you will know you have some work to do.

Many who live with chronic illness are conditioned to expect others to heal them. I know I did. We go from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist, avoiding the very issues that we may have stifled or denied to the world since childhood. It's easy to blame our parents for their genetics or anyone else outside of our own perfect existence. Never in a million years did we think we had the ability to heal ourselves or that our thinking and words put out a specific vibration that would attract the same energy, people, places or situations. But the truth remains the same. We aren't perfect. We all have character traits we may have developed over the years, good and bad. You might see only the good ones and that's okay. For now.

Mondolez International Acquires Enjoy Life Foods: What Does This Mean For Those With Top 8 Allergies or Celiac Disease?

Many of you might have heard the news. An internationally publicized buyout that will hit those of us in the food allergy and Celiac communities hard and not knowing what the future has in store is hitting many of us bloggers, food allergy moms and severely sensitive ones with agita.

For years, we've looked at Enjoy Life Foods as the leader in the food allergy community. My trust was even more solidified when I had the pleasure of hearing Joel Warady speak at FABlogCon 2014 about Enjoy Life's strict manufacturing practices. 

We're more than a bit leary about a allergy-friendly company being bought out by an international powerhouse company like Mondolez International.

Many of us try a new product which is labeled 'soy free' or 'gluten free' only to be burned by a reaction soon after because the gluten parts per million also known as PPM is too high for the extremely sensitive among us. Or maybe there is a soy derivative like tocopherol acetate or guar gum which contains up to 10% soy protein yet labeling for soy is considered 'unnecessary'.

If we know we can die or get sick, we're skeptical. Can you blame us?

The acquisition of Enjoy Life Foods by Mondolez International is actually a turning point for the food allergy and gluten-free community.

Allergy-Friendly Gluten-free Amanda's Own Chocolate REVIEW and Holiday GIVEAWAY!

 Ahh, the after-effects of Thanksgiving are now upon us and now we can domino into other holiday celebrations without the guilt.  Kind of like ordering a Super-Size with that diet soda back when you used to be able to eat fast food and junk.

Sure, those recipes on Pinterest made you saute, bake, fry, marinate and broil your way into a full season of PMS cravings where all you can think about is food. Even after you just ate, you're thinking about what to make later that day to excite your taste buds. Then you think about going to the gym and coming out dripping with sweat. You even changed into your gym clothes while thinking about it. So much so, that you actually felt your heart rate go up and broke a sweat at that very thought. No kidding (insert sarcasm here).

 Seriously, though, I don't blame you.

So you plop right back down and turn on Netflix because God knows you deserve it. And its cold out. Plus they just released another season of American Horror Story/Orange Is The New Black/Big Bang Theory/___________.

Traveling To Europe or Living in Europe With Food Allergies? Well You're In Luck.

I have an obsession with Paris, France. I have no idea why. I've never been there. However, when it came time to pick a language in middle school, I got yelled at by everyone (except for my dad) for choosing French. Of course, I had no idea why.

The fact that my dad had chosen French also made me realize how similar we were and made me wonder over the years, "Why?" My dad is very much an artist at heart so was it an artist thing?

It turns out that being part Filipino with a family who spoke two Filipino dialects, Spanish was kind of a 'cousin' of the language. If I knew Spanish, I'd also know many words in Ilocano. That's why they were mad. When would I ever use French?

So I took the class. And of course in lieu of memorizing the verbs and affinatives, I daydreamed about gorgeous scenery, hot 'copains,' romance and art. While drawing at my desk.

And then, of course, the 'Mademoiselle' professor brought me back to reality with a question that I could not answer, breaking the spell.

All I wanted to do was draw, paint and write. And so that's exactly what I did.





So now I'm not fluent in French. Far from it. In fact, I just started using Duolingo to brush up on the basics I barely remember from high school in my spare time. And now, I better get a move on it because apparently the European Union (EU) seems more aware of food allergies and just might be a bit safer than the USA.

Maya's Infamous Apple Crisp (Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Peanut-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free)

I call this recipe 'infamous' with good reason. Sure it looks like a hot mess, but never judge a book by its cover! This is what the 13x 9 x 2 inch Pyrex looked like in a matter of fifteen minutes. I kid you not.

I've brought this homemade apple crisp to holiday gatherings and Thanksgiving feasts as my 'safe' food and have survived on it alone. The buckwheat flour and oats help keep you full until you can duck out quickly to eat at home or sneak back to the table 30-45 minutes later for another serving. Don't wait longer than this or else you might find its already disappeared!

There are a few 'tricks' to making the most amazing apple crisp anyone has ever had. The first one is to definitely use Granny Smith apples (the sour green ones). I just didn't happen to have any on hand, so I subbed, which was a bad move. The puckery-sweet taste rounds out the other flavors perfectly and if you use different apples, your tasters might not notice the difference, but you definitely will...especially if this is normally your favorite dessert as it is mine. 

Halloween and Food Allergies: My Bittersweet Favorite Holiday

I never had a Halloween growing up.

You might say, "Oh, me either." But the truth is, it wasn't just about the candy or the food and festivities.

My family was Jehovah's Witness and raised me as such. I think I remember the first note sent home about a party in kindergarten, I came home crying because of all the planning going on that I wasn't allowed to participate in; not only for religious reasons but back then, I was one of only two people in an entire school who had anaphylaxis to peanuts. I didn't participate in any holiday projects and the teacher knew to give me an alternate assignment. And when it was someone's birthday, I got extremely uncomfortable and felt guilty, like I was doing something wrong or once again, I was banished to another classroom. I would also end up in the nurses' office every other day from hives and allergic reactions that didn't seem to ever give me a break; either from environmental triggers like pollen or dust or quite possibly from the peanut proteins in the air all over the cafeteria.

I was left out so much, I created my own realities...through my art.

I was born anaphylactic to peanuts and tree-nuts along with bad hives to Red #40 so candy was out of the question. As a young child, I was allergic to almost everything except olive oil, chicken and broccoli. So in a way, keeping me home during Halloween was my family's way of protecting me from not only the candy and food but also from the pain of feeling left out of everything.

Eating Gluten-Free With Food Allergies in Las Vegas

So many of you know recently I had the honor of speaking at the FABlogCon 2014 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada about dating with food allergies.

Talking about my experiences in 'Tell Then Kiss'

 After the conference, my mom and I had booked a couple more days at MGM Grand. Little did I know the severely limited options for someone with anaphylactic allergies and a severe soy allergy. Oh and let's not forget my severe gluten intolerance.

• Can't have eggs unless USDA Organic, tried and tested (due to hives and eczema from soy feed).

• Can't have bacon unless its Applegate Farms brand (due to hives and eczema from soy or gluten reaction from gluten feed)

• Can't have dairy (due to mild cumulative allergic itchy, peeling skin reaction and gluten reaction)

• Can't have olive oil at any restaurants because its usually fake and diluted with vegetable oil or soybean oil. (Read more about this here) unless its USDA Organic or tested and known to be safe.

• Can't have fruits that are not USDA Organic due to soy waxes on most regular fruits.

• Can't have drinks due to 'natural flavors' (usually GMO soy)

Can't have...can't have...can't have.....and the list goes on...


I found myself having a breakfast of a Banana Nut Chia Bar and an Americano at Starbucks an hour later, my Amazing Grass with water. YUM. #eyeroll (It was good, until I was forced to eat it daily). I had a gluten reaction early on for 6 out of the 7 days in Vegas and did my best to eat as carefully as I could since this along with an allergic reaction (from the clouds of soy-laden cigarette smoke everywhere and taking Zantac (which contains soy derivatives..but of course I forgot) the two nights leading up to my speaking event had already caused a drop in my immune system along with hand eczema and a bit of mouth eczema.

So I came back having lost about 7 lbs and one dress size. That's my new diet plan. To travel more often.

Don't I look skinny? I was channeling the Titanic exhibit.

BEST Soy-Free Gluten-Free Chinese Fried Rice EVER!

Growing up part Asian (Filipino), I think an affinity to Asian cuisine ran through my genes...especially Chinese food. For two decades I was able to eat it without an allergic reaction, until my soy allergy became much worse and I could no longer eat soy sauce or anything made with soy. Because of my experience and passion for Asian cuisine, I am extremely particular with my Chinese food and was incredibly disappointed to visit P.F. Chang's about a year and a half ago (since apparently they print out a menu specifically for you once you tell them your allergies) and all I could eat there was a plate of rice and steamed frozen vegetables which they didn't even bother to put any spices or herbs on (which were....GASP! frozen!) FYI: No decent Chinese place uses frozen vegetables. It was that horrible experience that forced me to figure out my own homemade recipe for one of my favorite dishes, Chinese Fried Rice. 

And since coming from Vegas and hearing my mom complain about the Chinese food everywhere she went, I realized its time to share my homemade soy-free gluten-free Chinese Fried Rice recipe with all of you. So I made it tonight....

Maya's Soy-Free Gluten-Free Chinese Fried Rice

This is what Chinese Fried Rice should taste like and I'm willing to say that even your family won't realize the difference. Be forewarned; this dish does not taste soy-free and gluten-free so if you are cooking for a loved one with soy allergy or Celiac disease, they may need to see all the ingredients to believe you.

FABlogCon 2014

Cheesy arrival at Vegas airport! 

How Jenny and Homa pulled off an entire 'free of the top 8 allergens' weekend with FABlogCon 2014 is beyond me. Well, ok, not actually. They were lucky enough to find South Point Hotel and Casino in Vegas whose food safety manager is truly one of a kind. Keith Norman is a happy, friendly chef who will go through the utmost care to make sure you can eat safely without a reaction.

I talked to him briefly about the stringent precautions he takes for people with single food allergies or people with multiple food allergies.